Compare towns
Chittenden vs Norwich vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chittenden has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Chittenden | Norwich | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318Lowest |
3,640Highest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3Highest 18% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Chittenden and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5% VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Norwich and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
| Norwich and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$346,700±$37kLowest 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
| Norwich and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346Lowest 6% above VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Norwich and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Norwich and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Norwich School District | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.